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Big Valley Jamboree’s soggy start can’t dampen spirits

Click to play video: 'Big Valley Jamboree gets underway during rainy Alberta summer'
Big Valley Jamboree gets underway during rainy Alberta summer
Aug. 1: The Big Valley Jamboree gets underway on Thursday. Fletcher Kent looks at how the festival is happening during a rainy summer in Alberta – Aug 1, 2019

One of the most popular summer festivals in Alberta is back again: Big Valley Jamboree.

The country music festival runs Aug. 1 to Aug. 4 at the Camrose Regional Exhibition Grounds.

READ MORE: Alberta’s Big Valley Jamboree offers young artists big opportunity

Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ coverage of the Big Valley Jamboree on Friday.

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Festival attendees didn’t seem deterred by the water. The festival’s campgrounds were soggy from months of rain, and on Wednesday more wild weather stormed through.

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Early arrivals were soaked and some vehicles got stuck.

READ MORE: Tornado warnings dropped for Red Deer and Lacombe counties

About eight per cent of the campsites have had to be relocated as a result, according to the festival. Still, the soggy start hasn’t really dampened spirits.

“We have a beach behind us,” said one attendee. “We just want to get our lawn chairs out and get having a drink.”

“It probably rains one or two days here but they’re prepared for that,” organizer Mike Anderson explained. “And it’s part of the BVJ experience.”

Anderson said the festival is doing its best to move people to drier spots and helping people whose cars need a rescue get a tow truck. Even though the festival grounds are dry, he says anyone camping on-site would benefit from a pair of rubber boots.

This year’s lineup features Brooks and Dunn, Old Dominion, Toby Keith, Kane Brown, Brett Kissel and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Watch below: Gord Steinke interviews country music superstar Toby Keith at the Big Valley Jamboree on Friday.

Click to play video: 'Interview with Toby Keith at BVJ'
Interview with Toby Keith at BVJ

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